Media Release

On 18 February 2024, the Courier Mail published an article raising concerns about the increase in hospital presentations by patients suffering psychosis after being prescribed medicinal cannabis (Sinnerton J., 2024, pp. 8). In this article, leading Australian doctors and medical fraternities including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Medical Association Queensland, have called for a complete ban on products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and a review by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) into all medicinal cannabis products available via doctors’ script in Australia.

Provocatus has made representations to current sitting parliamentarians, Australian Government Departments (including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs), and the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to highlight similar concerns it has over the safety of ADF Veteran patients seeking medicinal cannabis treatment for health conditions resulting from their service in the Australian Defence Forces.

Provocatus supports a deliberate and appropriate approach to the prescribing of unregistered medicines, and believes products containing THC can be helpful when prescribed under the correct circumstances.

Provocatus will continue to advocate for the safety of the ADF Veteran patients seeking unregistered medications to alleviate symptoms associated with pain causing conditions.